Alter Ego
/ˌæl.tər ˈiː.ɡoʊ/noun
A second self or alternate personality; another aspect of one’s identity.
Did you know?The phrase comes straight from Latin philosophy, where alter ego was used to mean a trusted intimate or “other self,” long before it became the language of secret identities and split personas.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
alter ego
“another self; a trusted intimate or second self”
16th Century
Latin
alter ego
“used in learned writing for a close companion or trusted deputy”
17th Century
English
alter ego
“a second self; a person’s trusted representative”
Modern English
English
alter ego
“an alternate identity or distinct side of a person”
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